Going to the gym can be intimidating at first for fitness beginners. This can discourage many people and make them not go at all. “Gym-timidation” is a real thing that can take a long time to get over.
Being active is important for one’s physical and mental health. But for many, going to the gym solo just isn’t their thing. A fun way to get active here in Athens is by taking group fitness classes available at Ping Center.
These classes are held every week and are free to students who sign in using their student email.
Each class lasts for 45 minutes and is held at different times throughout the day.
Hip-Hop
This class is for you if you’re looking for a good time.
This is the first fitness class I ever attended, so I went with my friends to check it out.
Going in, I assumed it would be a fast-paced dance class where we learned short dance routines, typically called combos. I have a cheer and dance background, so I was excited to check this class out.
The first red flag was when we got an email that recommended wearing sweatpants to this class because we would be doing a lot of floor work.
However, my friends and I still arrived at Ping, sweatpants and all, eager to see what the class entailed.
We arrived 10-15 minutes early, as all of the classes ask you to, and started with a stretch. Once we were warmed up and ready, the instructor asked if any of us were familiar with “breaking.”
We were not.
“Breaking” is the proper term for what many people know as breakdancing. We learned the basic moves of breaking and a six-step routine combining them all.
This class was more difficult than I anticipated, but I was able to do it with my friends, which made it worthwhile. We were all encouraging each other in the class as we failed miserably trying to do the six-step.
Overall, I wouldn’t go back to this class, but it was a great experience nonetheless.
I would recommend everyone to try this class at least once if you’re looking for something new and fun to try with your friends.
Cycle
This class is for you if you are ready to sweat.
Once you get over the initial awkwardness of rolling your bike out from the corner of the studio and adjusting it to your height, this class is a blast.
If you are missing your Peloton bike at home and want to get back in the saddle of cycling, look no further.
During the class, the instructor had a playlist full of songs to cycle to, with each song following a different pace.
This class is perfect for any level -- from beginner to expert. You get to choose your speed and resistance; the instructor is just there to provide you with guidance.
After this class, I was dripping with sweat. My heart rate was higher than any other fitness class I attended.
I would recommend this class to anyone looking for an intense cardio workout.
Cardio Dance
This class is for you if you love dancing at parties with your friends.
This was the only class I attended alone, but it was the most fun class I went to.
I felt weird in the class while we were stretching and warming up since I was the only one that didn’t come with a group of people.
However, as soon as the music started and everyone was dancing, I forgot I was alone.
This class was what I expected when I first signed up for Hip-Hop.
The instructor showed us a series of combos for one song that we would repeat throughout its duration. The songs were from artists like Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Megan Thee Stallion -- songs that you listen to when you’re getting ready with your friends for a night out.
One part of this class that was frustrating was that some combos were more difficult than others.
In class, the instructor isn’t teaching you the combos but rather doing them with you and you have to pick them as you go along.
Even as someone with somewhat of a dance background, some parts of the class were difficult because we were moving so fast and I couldn’t pick up all of the moves.
It would also be frustrating when I would finally perfect the combo and then we would move on to the next song.
While this could be discouraging at times, everyone in the class was in the same position. None of us were professionals -- we were just there to dance and have fun.
This class was more of a full-body workout than the other classes. There were obviously elements of cardio, but with different arms and legs sections added in as well.
I would recommend this class to anyone looking to have fun while they work out.
Yoga
This class is for you if you are looking to relieve some stress.
With midterms going on and loads of exams piling up, this can be a stressful time of the semester. Whether exams or Mercury Retrograde is giving you trouble, the yoga class at Ping is a great way to unwind.
This class is perfect for beginners, but it also offers more difficult modifications to poses for more experienced yogis.
If you do attend this class, make sure you have a yoga mat or one you can borrow from a friend. Because of the pandemic, Ping is not providing mats.
Make sure to arrive around 10 minutes early to this class so you can get a spot closer to the front. If you are near the back of the room it can be harder to hear the instructor over the zen music.
Even if you have never been to a yoga class before, this is a perfect place to start. Check out some tips for yoga beginners here.
I would recommend this class to anyone looking to hit the reset button after a long, stressful week.
The group fitness class schedule can be found on the Campus Recreation section of OU’s website here. When you find a class you would like to attend, go to the right where it says “Register Here” and follow the steps from there.
The schedule comes out before the week begins so it can be hard to plan ahead. Registration for classes opens 24 hours before the class begins.
